GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has directed the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to retract all but five notices issued to premises operating along the dual chariot procession routes to refrain from selling liquor.
State Local Government Committee chairman Jason H'ng said the five premises were those located at Jalan Gottlieb and Jalan Kebun Bunga, the main vicinity for the three-day Thaipusam celebration.
H'ng said the MBPP had issued the notices to 56 premises along the dual chariot procession routes.
He said he received numerous complaints from many businesses since last night and had sought an explanation from MBPP mayor Datuk A Rajendran.
"After looking through the matter, I feel that the move is unjustifiable for the other 51 premises.
"As such, I have ordered the MBPP to retract all but five notices issued to premises operating along the dual chariot procession routes to refrain from selling liquor. Only the five premises at Jalan Gottlieb and Jalan Kebun Bunga, the main vicinity for the three-day Thaipusam celebration, will not be allowed to sell liquor throughout the Thaipusam celebration.
"The MBPP officers are on the ground now to remove the notices.
"We understand the concerns of the business community and we hope that with this move, they will do business with ease," he said today.
Earlier today, the New Straits Times reported that the MBPP had issued an advisory to premises operating along the dual chariot procession routes to refrain from openly selling liquor.
The three-day advisory, from today until Friday, was a mark of respect for the ongoing three-day Thaipusam celebrations and to ensure they were celebrated in an orderly and peaceful manner.
Rajendran said the notice dated Monday issued to the premises between Lebuh Queen and Jalan Air Terjun was merely an advisory note and not for enforcement purposes.
H'ng said such notices should only be issued after getting endorsement from the state executive council members (exco).
He, however, said the "confusion" which arose was a technical issue on the part of the council.
Meanwhile, Rajendran said, after careful consideration, the council felt there was no necessity to issue the notice to premises outside of Jalan Gottlieb and Jalan Utama for the three-day celebration.
"We have done the necessary to remove the notices from these premises," he added.